Laneikka Denne in Salt Along the Tongue.

The Exorcist meets Rosemary’s Baby in Australia’s release of Salt Along the Tongue, an Italian supernatural horror film set to have its World Premiere at SXSW Sydney on Friday 18 October 2024. The film is currently sold out with anticipation for more screening sessions to be announced.

A love letter to mothers, this all-female cast thriller sets the standard for indie low-budget filmmaking, calling back to the days of VHS nostalgia. Devised by emerging Australian filmmakers from around the country, the film showcases the desire of creatives to be involved in ambitious and bold projects. Step into the mind of Parish Malfitano’s (Bloodshot Heart) second feature film set to encourage the most visceral of reactions.

A semi-finalist in Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition, the film recounts a haunting tale rooted in the belief in the malocchio (evil eye), a superstition found across many cultures, marked by misfortune and jealousy.

Inspired by films such as Golden Lion winner Pedro Almodovar’s Volver, Possession, Three Women and Don’t Look Now, Salt Along the Tongue follows Mattia, grappling with the loss of her mother, who begins to unfurl a treacherous family secret, threatening her life. From beyond the grave, Mattia’s mother possesses her daughter in an attempt not only to protect her from the same fate that befell her but also to find reconciliation with her sister, using food as a gateway.

Made on a shoestring budget, this independent feature film evokes the tangible quality of 16mm film. Strong allusions to the generational and traumatic experiences detailed in grandmother’s tales of suspicious curses, the film reconciles the cultural heritage of European Australians as if Looking for Alibrandi was retold with ghosts.

Salt Along the Tongue.

“Beyond its unsettling exterior and heightened reality, the film resonates with themes of love, protection, and reconciliation. Nearly every family harbours narratives akin to the one depicted in the film marked by misplaced loyalty, pride, guilt, and the destructive act of disregarding one another’s truths,” says Parish Malfitano.

Gruesome and heavily inspired by the supernatural genre, Salt Along the Tongue explores the notion of a mother’s unwavering love and protection set against the backdrop of a world where women have power.

Leading the cast is Australian trailblazer Dina Panozzo (Fistful of Flies, Bed of Roses, Richmond Hill) who stars as both Mina and Carol throughout the film, solidifying an outstanding performance shifting seamlessly between two of the film’s protagonists. Alongside her is rising star Laneikka Denne (Mud Crab, Oi, We Used to Own Houses), who delivers a powerful, thought-provoking performance, full of complexity and raw emotion throughout the film.

The film features an all-female cast, who all converse in their mother tongue, highlighting their deep multicultural bond and reflecting the rich cultural makeup of Australia. The film features performances by Mayu Iwasaki (Birds, Remember My Name), Caroline Levien (The Summit, Bad Behaviour), Maria De Marco (The Illustrated Family Doctor, Old School), Nicole Toum, Olga Olshansky, Helen Vassiliadis and Liz Lin.

The film is currently looking for distribution partners worldwide.

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